The commemorative service took place at the Czechoslovak Army Memorial, which was created in 1940 by one of the Czechoslovak soldiers, and later famous sculptor, Franta Bělský and was unveiled by Jan Masaryk.

In July 1940, the land adjacent to Cholmondeley Castle became a refuge for more than three and a half thousand troops of the Czechoslovak Army, who moved here after the failed defense of France. The soldiers were re-grouped here, creating a brigade and three Czechoslovak RAF squadrons. Over time, the overall Czechoslovak military infrastructure consisted of the Ministry of Defence, a brigade, four RAF squadrons and training and administrative units.

Among the soldiers who stayed in Cholmondeley were also future paratroopers Jan Kubiš and Josef Gabčík, who later assassinated Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich as part of Operation Anthropoid. Historian John Martin, author of 'The Mirror Caught the Sun: Operation Anhtropoid 1942', arranged for a plaque commemorating their time at Cholmondeley to be placed on the castle wall ahead of the event.

The Czech government-in-exile used the premises of Cholmondeley in the period between July 7 and October 16, 1940, when it moved its camps to the spa town of Leamington Spa and nearby villages.